Editors Note
Accordions Worldwide Office Manager, Tatiana Lanchtchikova will be away for the next two weeks, performing at the New Zealand Music Festival. We will include details of these concerts in our Weekly News over the next few weeks. Tatiana will reply to all emails when she returns home to Auckland.

Wayne Knights Webmaster

The annual New Zealand Accordion Championships and Festival will be held at Epsom Girls Grammar School, Epsom, Auckland from May 31st to June 2nd. This competition includes a variety of age group categories for soloists, duos, trios, ensembles and orchestras for entrants from New Zealand, Australia, China and South Pacific regions.

The event is held one week after the Australian International Accordion Championships (May 24th to 26th) in Sydney, Australia so contestants can enter both competitions if they wish. Competition rules for the international piano accordion classes are the same for both competitions. Rules for the top solo class are the same as the 2002 Coupe Mondiale piano accordion class.

Entries close April 26th 2002. For further details email: leopanzic@xtra.co.nz

Contributed by Holda Paoletti-Kamp

Ancona Promuove (the special body of the CCIAA of Ancona, Italy) have organized an exhibit at the MusikMesse 2002 of the biggest accordion in the world and a concert by jazz accordionist Richard Galliano. The event will also include product information and a notable cultural program promoting the accordion. This is possible thanks to Ancona Promuove, the cooperation of the town of Castelfidardo (home of the Italian accordion), and with a grant in aid of the Marches Region.

The event is divided into three different activities. The first is commercial and includes the preparation of an elegant exhibition stand in the new pavilion of the MusikMesse, where visitors can see information about the novelties shown by members of Music Marche, an association of manufacturers of musical instruments from the province of Ancona.

The second activity aims at surprise. Visitors, on entering the stand of the Marches region, will be welcomed by the biggest accordion in the world. Exhibited for the first time and branded with the name of Castelfidardo, this instrument is in perfect working order and stands 2.7 m high and 1.6 m wide. It weighs 300 kg and must be played by two people (one for the treble keys and the other for the bass). The accordion took Giancarlo Francenella from Castelfidardo three years to build and is about to be listed in the Guinness book of records.

The third activity focuses on an impressive cultural event, programmed for March 14th, when in the prestigious concert hall of the Palmengarten (the famous botanic garden of Frankfurt) a concert will be given by the great Italian/French jazz accordionist Richard Galliano.

Richard Galliano is an acknowledged professional jazz musician in Europe, virtuoso of bandoneon and of the accordion. He is able to catch the sense of Afro-American music without forgetting the lyrics of Astor Piazzolla and is therefore capable of choosing new paths while following old traditions.

By organizing these events Giorgio Cataldi, President of Ancona Promuove said "On the one hand we wish to demonstrate that the 'made in Castelfidardo' accordion is an extraordinary, high quality instrument, and therefore we present something unique. On the other hand the concert given by jazz player Richard Galliano intends to attract international attention to the accordion. We want to demonstrate its versatility and how easy it is to switch from traditional pop music to modern music suitable for films, through jazz, which is today one of the most appreciated musical expressions".

For further details email: turismo@comune.castelfidardo.an.it

Accordionist Dr William Schimmel is Music Adapter for the upcoming run of "Shmulnik's Waltz", a play by Allan Knee with music composed by David Shire. The play will open on March 1st at the Lake Worth Playhouse in Lake Worth, Florida. It was originally an Off-Broadway Show which began 10 years ago at the Jewish Repertory Theatre and then moved to the John Houseman Theatre, in Manhattan. Since its New York run, it has received more than 20 out of town productions all over the United States and Canada.

In New York, Dr. Schimmel worked closely (as musical director and adapter) with Grammy and Oscar winner David Shire and director Gordon Hunt (father of Helen Hunt) in adapting the music for the stage, scoring it for accordion and violin as well as making the musicians character actors as well. The accordion, to this day, remains the musical anchor of the play. Dr. Schimmel has been music adapter and consultant on all subsequent out of town productions. For play details email: GWILLIAMANDMICKI@aol.com

Contributed by Svetlana Stavitskaya

Over 4,000 people attended a concert entitled "The Best Guitarists of Russia", held at the large "Oktiabrsky" concert hall in St. Petersburg on February 16th. Performers included rock guitarists Victor Sinchuk and Ivan Smirnov (Moscow) and Igor Romanov and Sergei Bolotnikov (St. Petersburg).

Accordionist Vladimir Ushakov entertained with the group "BoloBand" on MIDI accordion which gave the public the opportunity to hear the combination of real accordion sounds and special sounds from the sound module like pads, rock organs, synthetic brass, bagpipes, trumpets, pianos, strings etc.

Vladimir Ushakov said he was grateful for the opportunity to "promote the accordion as an instrument that could be used in different styles of music including rock music as well. It was a great pleasure to see how 4,000 people reacted to the accordion's appearance in a rock group"

Vladimir is one of the founders and soloists of the St. Petersburg Musette ensemble, which won 1st prize in the 1999 Variety Groups category of the Castelfidardo Competition in Italy.

Contributed by Richard Smith

The Dartington International Music Summer School will hold master classes and workshops by accordionist Dermot Dunne plus a specialist course entitled "Composition and Performance: The Theatre of the Accordion" from July 27th to August 3rd in Dartington, Totnes. The specialist course will be directed by Deirdre Gribbin, Lou Stein & Dermot Dunne and will examine the theatrical possibilities inherent in the creation of new works for the accordion. Working closely with text from Annie Proulx's Accordion Crimes, short pieces will be written by composers for participating accordion players. There will be an emphasis on the delivery and presentation of a work within a theatrical context, and a focus on building working partnerships between composers and performers.

Accordion tutor, Dermot Dunne (winner of the RTE Musicians of the Future competition), will work with players on developing skills. Course applications must be made by May 3rd, 2002. For further details email: r1c_sm1th@hotmail.com

Contributed by Anne-Marie L'Hostis

Bayanist Youri and Ludmila Fedorov (vocals and bandoura) will perform at the Sainte-Rosalie Church in Paris on March 10th. The duo, who are both soloists of the Kiev Philharmonic, will give a program of hymns and traditional Ukrainian music. For details email: am.lhostis@libertysurf.fr

Contributed by Peter Piccini

Accordionist Cathie Travers (West Coast of Australia) will perform with her group at the Perth Jazz Society concert at the Hyde Park Hotel on March 11th. This performance (held on the day of his birth) is a tribute to Astor Piazzolla. The program will include primarily works by Piazzolla plus some of Cathie's own compositions and one by Galliano. For further concert details email: info@magneticpig.ii.net

Contributed by Holda Paoletti-Kampl

The China International Accordion Competition and Festival will be held in Tianjin from August 25th to 29th presented by the Tianjin Conservatory of Music. The event will include a variety of competition categories for musicians of any nationality or country including soloists, duos, trios, quartets and orchestras. Registrations must be received between June 20th and July 20th, 2002. For details phone: +86 22-24160033

Contributed by Toru Katou

In March, accordionist Mie Miki will perform a number of concerts in Japan. On the 9th she will play at the Aichi Prefectural Art Theater, followed by a concert at the Yonago Culture Center (Tottori Prefecture) on the 16th. On March 17th Mie will play at the Studio Runde in Nagoya City and on the 20th at the "Ohkurayama Wednesday Concert". For further information phone: +81 3 3239-5491

Accordionist Jon Hammond and the Late Rent Session Men will entertain at Smiley's Schooner Saloon and Hotel on March 1st. Returning to Jon's band is guitarist Barry Finnerty. Also in the band is funk drummer Ronnie Smith.

After this show Jon will depart for Germany to perform at the International Musikmesse in Frankfurt for the 16th consecutive year. For details email: laterent@webtv.net

Klezmer and Tango Accordion Workshop - Italy

The holiday lodge "I Poggetti" in Castelgiorgio (province of Trento) will host an accordion workshop held by Claudio Jacomucci, well-known accordionist and teacher of the Alexander Technique from July 23rd to 27th. The main topics covered will include aspects of accordion technique and the interpretation and arrangement of two specific musical styles - klezmer and tango. The course is aimed at students, professionals and teachers. For course information email: hbhiac@tin.it

The Klaus Paier Trio will entertain in a number of cities in Austria from March 16th to 29th. The trio which includes Klaus Paier (accordion), Stefan Gfrerrer (bass) and Roman Werni (drums) will perform some concerts with a string quartet. Performances will be held in Klagenfurt, Graz, Mürzzuschlag, Wolfsberg, Salzburg and Amstetten. For details email: klaus.paier@aon.at

Contributed by Holda Paoletti-Kampl

Accordionist Simone Zanchini will hold a workshop on March 3rd at the Torre dell'Orologio in Nonantola (Modena province). The workshop will include the following topics:

• the bellows: sound production and control
• the bellows and the reed
• the place of the accordion in various musical genres and in the languages of composed and improvised music
• languages that are "close" or "distant" to the instrument
• the art of listening to the different accordion languages
• the basics of good improvisation
• accordion ensemble music
• use of the left hand for accompaniment of an improvised piece
• every part of an accordion can produce sounds!
• is it better to be an accordionist who plays the accordion or a musician who plays the accordion?

For workshop details email: simonezanchini@hotmail.com

Contributed by Geoff Levear

The Rose City Accordion Club will hold their annual Accordion Camp at Silver Falls, Oregon from June 23rd to 27th. This year's tutors include Joe Morelli (Canada), Joe Baccellieri (USA), Don Battari from Portland, and Gary Blair from Scotland. The camp aims to give participants of all ability levels the opportunity to learn, rehearse, play, practice, perform and have fun! For further details phone: +1 503 452-4517

Contributed by Hillebrand van der Veen

The Forzando Light Orchestra (FLO) will perform at the Het Twiskehuis home for the elderly in Amsterdam on March 10th. The orchestra has been in big demand to perform at retirement homes recently and they believe it is because they play a variety of popular sing-a-long songs that the audience can sing and dance to. Their program usually includes many Dutch songs from the 1930's to 1960's, several older "Radio orchestra arrangements" from the 1950's and some German dance music e.g. "Heiteres Spiel" and "Drunten und Drüber" (by well known accordionist and dance orchestra leader Albert Vossen). For further details email: H.J.Veen@net.HCC.nl

Contributed by Christine Mücke

The Kieler Accordion Orchestra (1938) will hold their annual concert in Kronshagen on March 16th. The orchestra is directed by Karsten Schnack. For further concert details email: joehnkmuecke@t-online.de

The Czardas Duo, which includes Ian Watson (accordion) and Matthew Forbes (cello) have been very busy, playing 14 concerts since the new year, including venues such as Ripon Cathedral, Hartlepool Town Hall and the Southampton International Recital Series. The Duo have already commissioned 5 new works this year from British composers and are about to record a CD of new British works for accordion and cello from composers such as David Gorton, John Webb, Joe Dudell and Thomas Gold. The recording will be available later in 2002.

Ian Watson is also teaching at Kingston University and Surrey University and has organised a series of workshops with composers to introduce them to the accordion and generate more new works for the accordion. For further details email: ianwatson99@lineone.net

Victoria Miles is a children's book author in Canada and is currently working on a fictional story set in Vancouver about a girl in 1939 who is learning the piano accordion (her family are immigrants from Italy). She would like to hear from people who have played the piano accordion as children in the late 1930's in North America. She would also like to contact the Italian male accordion teacher of her mother (Joan Hutchinson), who studied in Victoria (Canada) in the 1940s. This man lived in the James Bay area. Email: Victoria_Miles@vancity.com

www.ronpearcemusic.com.au Information on Ron Pearce Music, importers, repairers, wholesalers, retailers and professionals in music education.

www.accordions.com/tianjin Information on the China International Accordion Competition and Festival held in Tianjin from August 25th to 29th.

George would like information about a Paolo Soprani piano accordion circa.1930-40, with white and mother of pearl front, inlaid with diamond cut blue and red stones, 41 keys, with the markings "Castelfidardo", "Italia" (on the front) and "43A" on the rear. Email: littlegarve@btinternet.com

Leandro Oliveri would like information on an 8 bass wooden Paolo Soprani Figli piano accordion. Markings on the instrument include "Castelfidardo", "Ancona", "Italia", "Premiata Fabbrica Di Armonighe" and "Riproduzione Vietata". There is also some fine ornamental work in the wood. Email: americano@sinectis.com.ar

Jennifer Janke would like information on a 60 bass Cav. Sante Crucianelli & Figli piano accordion, made in Italy. Email: jenniferjanke@hotmail.com